New Zealand's challenge at the World Cup in China is fizzling out after David Smail and Mark Brown slipped to 18th after the third round on Saturday.
Their four-under 68 at Shenzhen under the fourballs format saw them improve to eight-under but fall five places, 14 shots behind joint leaders Spain and Australia.
Smail and Brown were tied for sixth after the opening round of fourballs on Thursday but back-pedalled to 13th in the 28-nation $US6.5 million ($NZ10.1 million) two-man teams event following yesterday's foursomes.
Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal saw their four-shot advantage at the midway point disappear after carding 67 today to be 22-under.
Australia's Richard Green and Brendan Jones shot a fine 63 to move within striking distance while Sweden are third, four shots back on 18-under.
Play returns to foursomes to complete the tournament tomorrow.
